FISHER HOUSE - HELPING MILITARY FAMILIES

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All it takes is a phone call, and your world can come to a sudden stop. Someone you love has been injured in service to their country. Or they are in need of treatment for a life-threatening disease. In a matter of hours you are on a plane flying to a city and a base that you know nothing about.

Where will you stay? What will you need? How can you afford this?

At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base there are two women ready to answer those questions and take care of needs that you haven’t even considered.

Karen Healea and Barbara Howe are manager and assistant manager of the Fisher/Nightingale House located on base a few blocks from the Wright-Patterson Medical Center.

“We are here to make it a smooth transition. With all the things on someone’s mind we can take lodging off the list,” said Healea. “We are here to greet you at the door with a warm welcome and assess your needs. Everything you need is available here including a listening ear.”

The ladies are experts at navigating the military and medical systems. There is no cost for staying at a Fisher/Nightingale House. Expenses are handled through charitable donations, volunteers and the Fisher/Nightingale Foundation.

“Once someone settles in, has a meal and finds themselves in a safe and calm environment, they are able to relax and focus on what really matters,” said Howe.

Guidelines for use of the Fisher/Nightingale House is that you live outside a 50 mile radius of Wright-Patt and that your loved one is receiving active treatment at Wright-Patt’s Medical Center.

The current Fisher House can accommodate up to 16 people which falls short of the need. So in 2007 with the approval of the Fisher/Nightingale Foundation, the Air Force and Wright-Patterson a capital campaign began to raise $1 million dollars locally toward the overall cost of building an addition to the current Fisher House.

The new facility will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the end of this month, giving them 12 more bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, another kitchen, dining room and common rooms for visitors to use.

“We have a built-in support system,” said Healea. “Guests make friends and support each other. This is their home with their private areas, but there is the option to come to the living room to watch T.V., play Wii or just sit and talk.”

Like many homes, the kitchen is the heart of the home where guests will gather to cook for themselves and sometimes everyone pitches in to make a common meal. The pantry and refrigerator is stocked with anything they need to make a meal. And there is space for guests to bring their own food items also.

“The biggest challenge is to make sure that everyone feels like this is their home, and not an impersonal institution,” said Healea.

“This is still a house with all the usual needs,” said Howe. Dishes need washed, laundry needs done, and each week we try to plan activities like a cookout or a bingo game to help people through their week.”

According to Howe the average stay is six days.

“The hospital is very good to work with,” said Howe. “They let us know if we need to make a family a priority. If a situation calls for extra family members to come to town, we work hard to keep families together.”

And even when the crisis is over, people never forget the love and care they received at the Fisher House.

“Last January we had a young woman who was sent to our hospital with a high-risk pregnancy. Her father and aunt came to stay with us while seeing the mother through the frightening time,” said Howe. “Once the baby was safely delivered and our guest were going home we were happy to tell them that we hoped to never see them again.”

Much to their surprise a couple of months later the young mother brought the baby to see them. They had never met the mother, but they were touched and thrilled that she wanted them to know what their service meant to her and the baby.

But for all the hard work that Healea and Howe do, they are quick to point out that they couldn’t accomplish so much if it wasn’t for the volunteers and the community support they receive.

“Miracles happen because of these people,” said Healea. “From stocking pantries and providing games and goodie bags for children to making welcome blankets that we can personalize, the volunteers do it all.

“Karen and Barb are the heart and soul of the Fisher House at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” said Dan Druzbacky, director of Compassionate Care and liaison with the hospital. “They are mothers, sisters, confidants and friends. Everyone I see praises Karen and Barb for what they do for our guests. In my opinion, they are the best in the Department of Defense.”

Druzbacky also shared his appreciation for the Foundation. “We appreciate the Fisher/Nightingale Foundation and their over the top support.”

“When someone receives that call to come, we take away the worry about where to stay. They can get off the plane, walk through our door and feel like they belong,” said Healea. “You can see the stress lift off of them, and we are so glad to help.”

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